Saskatoon Construction II - Page 396

jigglysquishy · #**7901** Posted **Apr 11, 2015, 8:55 PM**

The beaches are so tricky. The city can't actively promote them for insurance/liability/safety reasons so they can't cite the beaches as a reason to not raise the water level.

I'd much prefer the city spend the money to make these beaches "legal", but I understand it's a touchy situation.

prairieguy · #**7902** Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 4:08 PM**

University Hotel Project

Anyone know what has happened to this project? I thought it was a done deal?!

http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/hotel-development-coming-to-university-of-saskatchewan-1.1532433

This is just lost opportunity in my opinion. I have helped organize a few conferences on campus and to have a hotel facility linked to the U of S would have been a huge asset.

Toontone · #**7903** Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 8:11 PM**

Yeah same here...I kind of forgot all about this one. The article certainly sounded conclusive to me at the time......maybe, like many projects, it's just taking its own sweet time.

Echoes · #**7904** Posted **Apr 13, 2015, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toontone

Yeah same here...I kind of forgot all about this one. The article certainly sounded conclusive to me at the time......maybe, like many projects, it's just taking its own sweet time.

As far as I know, it's just this.

prairieguy · #**7905** Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 3:36 PM**

Purple prisms in downtown sidewalks

I had read about this the day before and then in today's paper another article about the removal of these unique features of some downtown sidewalks. When I first read about it I was thinking I hope they maintain these...now from today's article, I see that is unlikely. When will we, as a city, start acknowledging the value of our past/history and do something to preserve it. These are such cool artifacts of our past!

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Savin...itage+advocates+save/10969990/story.html

drm310 · #**7906** Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 7:25 PM**

Yup, more history is erased, bit by bit. Disgraceful.

I noticed something else in that article. They interviewed a guy named Ben Voss, who owns the building "previously known as the Urban Oasis Building". It had been purchased in 2009 by another developer, Orion Morgan who runs a company called Urban Oasis Homes, and was supposed to be renovated. There was an article in the StarPhoenix about it at the time. Was that ever done? I can't find anything else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairieguy

Purple prisms in downtown sidewalks

I had read about this the day before and then in today's paper another article about the removal of these unique features of some downtown sidewalks. When I first read about it I was thinking I hope they maintain these...now from today's article, I see that is unlikely. When will we, as a city, start acknowledging the value of our past/history and do something to preserve it. These are such cool artifacts of our past!

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Savin...itage+advocates+save/10969990/story.html

macca · #**7907** Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon

On closer inspection the 2nd and 3rd floors are parking, screened with a louvred or grate-like cladding. If these floors can be convereted to human use in the future, I like this option vs. underground parking.

Measuring Stick · #**7908** Posted **Apr 14, 2015, 8:36 PM**

I noticed something else in that article. They interviewed a guy named Ben Voss, who owns the building "previously known as the Urban Oasis Building". It had been purchased in 2009 by another developer, Orion Morgan who runs a company called Urban Oasis Homes, and was supposed to be renovated. There was an article in the StarPhoenix about it at the time. Was that ever done? I can't find anything else.[/QUOTE]

The renovations were strictly interior, unfortunately. One floor has been renovated to a very high quality, while some as I understand are only shell space (undeveloped).

Measuring Stick · #**7909** Posted **Apr 15, 2015, 2:58 PM**

As for the Glass Sidewalks...the Avenue Building's are obviously too late to save (keep in place, not as a art piece). But there are other buildings along 21st Street where these still exist.

This may be a good time to look at funding options, perhaps some crowd-funding to attempt to save the remaining walk-ways from a similar fate? Something we could start as members here ?

drm310 · #**7910** Posted **Apr 15, 2015, 5:25 PM**

It's a nice idea. There was a half-hearted attempt four years ago:
http://blogs.thestarphoenix.com/2011/11/30/group-wants-to-save-sidewalk-prism-lights/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Measuring Stick

As for the Glass Sidewalks...the Avenue Building's are obviously too late to save (keep in place, not as a art piece). But there are other buildings along 21st Street where these still exist.

This may be a good time to look at funding options, perhaps some crowd-funding to attempt to save the remaining walk-ways from a similar fate? Something we could start as members here ?

Crisis · #**7911** Posted **Apr 15, 2015, 6:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Measuring Stick

As for the Glass Sidewalks...the Avenue Building's are obviously too late to save (keep in place, not as a art piece). But there are other buildings along 21st Street where these still exist.

This may be a good time to look at funding options, perhaps some crowd-funding to attempt to save the remaining walk-ways from a similar fate? Something we could start as members here ?

There's more to the issue than meets the eye (so to speak). You will shortly be seeing the removal and replacement of the prism containing sidewalks adjacent to the Canada Bldg and McMillian Bldg (south side of 21st street between 1st ave & 2nd ave, including the portion of 1st ave alongside the Canada Bldg).

The structure supporting these sidewalks is very deteriorated. My guess is that if the general public had access to the space beneath these sidewalks, many would stop using them. Much of the rebar in the concrete beams is exposed and terrbily corroded. In fact, a great deal of the beam rebar and the metal framing containing the glass prisms has completely desintegrated.

Because these building's basements extend beneath the sidewalk, it is the building owner's respsonsibility to mainiain the sidewalks. Unfortunately, like so many buildings in the city (i.e. Farnham Block) there has been little or no maintenance done through the years, leading to a liability issue for which the building owners are no longer are willing to be responsible. As a result, these buildings will have a wall constructed in the basement beneath the exterior face of the building line above ground. The remaining "tunnel" beneath the sidewalk will be filled with gravel or lean mix concrete, the existing sidewalks containing the prisms removed, and new sidewalks poured. The ownership (and responsibility for the maintenance) of the new sidewalks will then be transferred to the City of Saskatoon.

It would have actually been less expensive to reconstruct the support structure for the existing sidewalks, however the buildng owners were anxious to rid themswelves of the ongoing maintenance and liability and the COS would only agree to take over the ownership of the sidewalks if they were constructed as a slab-on-grade. So, sadly, the prismed sidewlaks will be destroyed, with the glass prisms being salvaged for sale to users in other cities that are wanting to maintiain this unique feature in their towns.

Temperance · #**7912** Posted **Apr 15, 2015, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crisis

...

It would have actually been less expensive to reconstruct the support structure for the existing sidewalks, however the buildng owners were anxious to rid themswelves of the ongoing maintenance and liability and the COS would only agree to take over the ownership of the sidewalks if they were constructed as a slab-on-grade. So, sadly, the prismed sidewlaks will be destroyed, with the glass prisms being salvaged for sale to users in other cities that are wanting to maintiain this unique feature in their towns.

Interesting and sad. It seems indicative of the City of Saskatoon's complete policy failure to protect or maintain heritage in this city.

drm310 · #**7913** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 2:45 PM**

... As well as the apparent complete disinterest of private owners in maintaining structures of heritage value.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temperance

Interesting and sad. It seems indicative of the City of Saskatoon's complete policy failure to protect or maintain heritage in this city.

drm310 · #**7914** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 2:48 PM**

The return of Turning the Tide, and a new use for the Main Street substation being vacated by Kindrachuk Agrey.

New life for bookstore aims to bring community together

By Charles Hamilton, The Starphoenix
April 16, 2015 9:19 AM

Even before the demolition permits were issued, Peter Garden knew he would be forced to relocate his bookstore from the little red house behind the Farnam Block.

Only months later, Turning the Tide has found a new home just off Broadway Avenue.

Garden and a group of local activists say the bookstore's rebirth also means the creation of a hub for people advocating social, environmental and economic justice.

"I think there is a real opportunity for people who are already doing work in the community to collaborate more. Collaboration comes with meeting and sharing space," Garden said.

Located at 615 Main St., the new space called The Stand will house the Turning the Tide bookstore as well as meeting and co-working spaces for community activists and organizers. [...]

Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainm...g+community+together/10976045/story.html

Stormer · #**7915** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by macca

On closer inspection the 2nd and 3rd floors are parking, screened with a louvred or grate-like cladding. If these floors can be convereted to human use in the future, I like this option vs. underground parking.

This building will also have U/G parking

Toontone · #**7916** Posted **Apr 16, 2015, 10:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairieguy

University Hotel Project

Anyone know what has happened to this project? I thought it was a done deal?!

http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/hotel-development-coming-to-university-of-saskatchewan-1.1532433

This is just lost opportunity in my opinion. I have helped organize a few conferences on campus and to have a hotel facility linked to the U of S would have been a huge asset.

Just heard today from a good source that the Hotel (actually 2, one regular and one long stay) development could start as early as this spring but for sure sometime this year. I believe it is Holiday Inn/Mainstay Hotels that will be doing the project. If more details are required perhaps contact the manager at Holiday Inn express.

drm310 · #**7917** Posted **Apr 20, 2015, 3:43 PM**

New growth not paying for itself: report
'It's time Saskatoon tackled this issue'

By Jason Warick, The Starphoenix
April 20, 2015 8:56 AM

New neighbourhood growth in Saskatoon does not pay for itself, according to a major study due to be presented to city council Monday.

"It's obvious here that growth is not paying for growth. We need to find out why," Coun. Tiffany Paulsen said. "It's time Saskatoon tackled this issue."

Paulsen made the initial inquiry to have the study done. For the past few years, residents have frequently asked the multi-term Ward 9 councillor why taxes are going up in a growing city with a booming economy. Paulsen said any future growth must be sustainable.

"I think this is a critical issue for the city," she said. [...]

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/growth+paying+itself+report/10986904/story.html

jigglysquishy · #**7918** Posted **Apr 20, 2015, 4:21 PM**

It's really a simple solution. The cost of building in suburbs has to be higher. The development levies the city places on developers building in suburbs is not high enough to cover the cost to build the infrastructure.

prairieguy · #**7919** Posted **Apr 20, 2015, 5:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

It's really a simple solution. The cost of building in suburbs has to be higher. The development levies the city places on developers building in suburbs is not high enough to cover the cost to build the infrastructure.

City should just review the recent development policies of Calgary if they want a good example. Their mayor understands the "costs/impact" of urban sprawl and they have addressed it with development levies. Somehow we refuse to learn from others mistakes or best practices and have to find our own way everytime!!! The impact of urban sprawl and its associated costs are not a new phenomena!!!

Arts · #**7920** Posted **Apr 20, 2015, 5:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigglysquishy

It's really a simple solution. The cost of building in suburbs has to be higher. The development levies the city places on developers building in suburbs is not high enough to cover the cost to build the infrastructure.

I completely agree. I find it ridiculous that existing owners are essentially subsidizing sprawl, and have to suffer neglected sidewalks and roads and higher property taxes as a result.